I've never had to say it was in the mail unless it was. What annoys me is when customers come in and say they're looking for something specific and the mailer told them "it would be here today." I explain that unless the mailer sent it Express guaranteed they can't accurately state what day it will arrive. Also, it depends on how they mailed it - First Class, Priority, Media mail. It seems people are so accustomed to immediate gratification they think when they order something it will be here the next day! Often when something shows up they've been waiting on I check the date it was mailed and discover it wasn't mailed when they were told it was or it was sent parcel post & they were told it was sent "overnight."

I have actually said this on more than one occassion. Once I sent a letter across town from where I worked (as a carrier) and it took 5 days to get there. Another time I sent a package across town and it took 8 days. I probably could have walked it there faster, but in both of these cases I told the person it was "in the mail". I'm just glad this doesn't happen more.

I had some paper work sent from one post office to my post office within the same 3 digit zip. The postmaster sent it priority mail and it took 7 days for me to get it. About 50 miles. When I received the package, it still had the placard she had put on it and the date she sent it (7 days prior.) It sure is hard to sell services that you see fail first hand. I could go on and on with this kind of story, as could we all. It is a pretty legit reason alot of times.

I don't think it is fair that companies tell customers that their bill/mail must be lost in the mail.... when it is probably in there office on their desk somewhere under a pile of papers. I have had customers come in and tell me that the company did have the letter/bill all along.